(1882-1963) Henry C. (Hendricus Cornelis) Balink was born on June 10, 1882 in Amsterdam. His talent and fondness for the arts was discovered in primary school. From 1909-1914 he studied at the Royal Academy of Art in Amsterdam with Derkinderen, Dake, Van der Waay and Six, and belonged to the top of his class. After marrying Maria Wessing, he and his bride came to the United States. Balink worked in New York for a short while, then moved to Chicago where he painted portraits for private patrons and murals at the Lady of Sorrows Basilica. In 1917, the Balinks went west and settled in Taos, New Mexico on Ledoux Street. He showed his work at art exhibitions in Santa Fe, Colorado Springs, Tulsa, Kansas City, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, and his paintings of Indians and Pueblo village scenes became popular and a commercial success. Members of the Taos Society of Artists unsuccessfully tried to have him deported from the U.S. They were motivated by professional jealousy, and tried to have Balink deported by accusing him of espionage.